Carl Stephenson (right), chief executive marketing officer for Wray and Nephew confers with brand manager Andrew Price. Both men were at a press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation office to announce their company's five-year deal to sponsor the National Premier League. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer WINE and spirits merchants, rum distillers and blenders Wray & Nephew were yesterday confirmed as the new sponsors of the National Premier League football.
They replace long-time sponsors, the Cigarette Company of Jamaica who did so under their Craven A brand. Wray & Nephew will inject $100m in the NPL over the next five years to be divided evenly.
Making the announcement was Carl Stephenson, chief marketing officer of Wray & Nephew. He did so at a press conference held at the Jamaica Football Federation headquarters yesterday.
"We are proud and delighted to announce a very significant collaboration between Wray & Nephew and the Jamaica Football Federation," said Stephenson.
"Over the next five years Wray & Nephew will invest JA$100m in the National Premier League, which will now be known as the Wray & Nephew National Premier League," added Stepehenson who was surrounded by a number of Wray & Nephew staff members such as brand manager Andrew Price and Richard Whittingham, international brand promotions manager.
Stephenson also said that his company will also support their sponsorship with "a series of exciting football initiatives across Jamaica" to be backed up by their White Overproof Rum brand.
"World Cup fever is about to hit us once again and we acknowledge the power of football to unite and bond us together and to allow all Jamaicans to enjoy the good times and share in a spirit of solidarity, which is the very essence of our brand...," continued Stephenson as he tried to sell his product on the competition.
The former sponsors, according to Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), decided to pull out of the sponsorship arrangement because cigarette manufacturers can no longer sponsor sports in general and football in particular. Burrell also thanked Cigarette Company for their over 20-year association which begun in a difficult time.
Wray & Nephew's yearly commitment to the NPL represents a difference of approximately $8.5m to what the Cigarette Company put up last year. There was, however, no declaration of how the money will be spent.
These details, according to JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, and general secretary Horace Reid will be outlined at press conferences to come.
The new sponsorship was a little bitter for the parish of St Elizabeth as they will now lose the support they have had from Wray & Nephew as the brand will now be exclusive to the NPL. They were however given the assurance that the possibility of another sponsor within the company could be explored.
